Improvement in devices for suspending pictures



fC-J'MASON. v Devibes for suspending Pictures.

1 Patented Sept. 29,1874,

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ATTlJBNEYS UNITED STATES PATENT OE IoE.

CHARLES MASON, OF NEW YORK, N. Y., ASSIGNOR TO CARL MOST, OF

. GREENVILLE, NEW JERSEY.

IMPROVEMENT IN DEVICES FOR SUSPENDING PICTURES.

Specification forming part of Letters Patent No. 165,535, dated September 29, 1874 application filed March 21, 1874,

To all whom it may concern:

Be it known that I, CHARLES ,MAsoN, of the city, county, and State of New York, have invented a new and Improved Device for Suspending Pictures, 860., of which the following is a specification:

In the accompanying drawing, Figure 1 represents a side view of my improved adjustable tion without the delay and trouble hitherto.

experienced thereby.

My invention consists of a suspensioncord, which is passed through the side staples of the picture-frame, and then through a hollow tapering socket to a tapering key with central and side perforations and grooved or ribbed surface. The ends of the cord are drawn through the central and side perforations of the key, and formed in a knot below, to be easily adjusted by drawing back the key, being then firmly locked in position in thesooket.

In the drawing, A represents a cord of silk, wire, or other suitable material used for hanging pictures and other articles of wall decoration. Cord A is placed in the usual manner on the hook or nail to which the object is to be hung, and its ends are then passed. in the usual manner through the side staples a of the picture-frame B. The ends of the cord A are then drawn through the central tapering perforation of a socket, 0, made of conical or other tapering shape, and of wood or other suitable material. The Wedge-key D, of corresponding shape, fits into the lower wider opening of socket C, and is provided with a central and two side perforations, b, through which the ends of the cords A are drawn.

They are then connected by a knot, to prevent any possibility of their escaping from the keypiece D. Key D may be made with annular grooves or ribs, as indicated in Fig. 2, to resist with increasing friction the forward motion in the socket C, so as to wedge firmly the cord'A, passing along both sides of the key D, between it and the socket. The greater, therefore, the strain caused by the weight of the picture on the cord and key the greater the pressure of the latter on the cord and its resistance to the strain. The cord may preferably be passed through t-he key by entering at the central perforation and issuing through the connecting side holes, or it may enter through the side holes and be drawn out at the bottom of the central perforation, as desired.

For adjusting the picture-frame to any desired height, it is only necessary to disconnect the key by holding the socket in one hand and producing with the other hand the lengthening or shortening of the cord until the position of the picture is obtained. The key closes then instantly into the socket, and secures firmly the exact length of the cord. The hang ing of pictures and other objects is thus greatly facilitated and quickly attended to, saving thereby a great deal of unnecessary delay, caused by the repeated adjustment hitherto necessary before the final position is obtained. The same device may also be made use of in ship-tackle for feeding the rope or cable, securing it instantly in the required position by allowing the key to lock the rope ends into the socket.

Having thus described my in vention,I claim as new and desire to secure by Letters Patent 1. The improved device for suspending pictures and other objects, consisting of ,cord A, tapering socket O, and the wedge-key D, being arranged and applied substantially in the manner and for the purpose set forth.

2. The tapering key-piece D, provided with or without annular grooves or ribs and central and side perforations, for fastening securely the cord in the socket, as set forth.

CHARLES MASON.

Witnesses:

PAUL GoEPEL, T. B. MOSHER. 

